10 reasons you'll want to play Pokémon Sun and Moon

T3 flies to Pokémon HQ to play two hours of the hot new title ahead of release

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A couple of weeks back T3 got a call from Professor Oak, who invited us over to Pokémon HQ to sample the latest and greatest Pokémon game on Nintendo 3DS. Naturally, we whipped out our Aerodactyl and flew over there immedietely.

What follows are 10 aspects of the new game that we think you'll dig. Enjoy!

First up, however, watch this short official video from Nintendo:

1. It's set in Alola, the Pokémon world's version of the Hawaiian Islands

That's right, for this entry in the series you get to search for Pokémon and battle other trainers across Alola, which consists of numerous seperate tropical islands. We only got to sample a small area of one of these islands during our play time, however judging from what we've seen, Sun and Moon seem to be the biggest Pokémon games yet. The bright weather and colourful locals make for a nice change.

2. You can play as a female protagonist and a key NPC is also female

Solitary Ash seems like a thing of the past now in the Pokémon franchise and, well, that's a great thing. For our playthrough we controlled a female protagonist, which we could name as we saw fit. A key NPC in Sun and Moon is also female and called Lillie (you can see her above looking slightly grumpy).

3. The art style of the Alola region and characters is distinctive and well executed

Gone is the rather generic east-west urban mashup of previous titles, to be replaced with a suitably Hawaiian theme for the characters, how they dress and the landscape they inhabit. Palm trees, verdant grasses, colourful flowers and - in the case of some young men - very little in terms of shirts is the norm. Despite this, the large city we visited in our playthrough was large and modern.

4. Your old favourite Pokémon are in residence, along with some cool new additions

The big question, right? What's the situation regarding the Pokémon themselves. Well, you've got three new Pokémon to choose from up front, Rowlet the owl, Litten the kitten and Popplio the sea lion, as well as smorgasboard of other new additions and all your old favourites. Don't worry - you WILL be able to get your Snorlax on! As you would expect, Sun and Moon each have their own unique Pokémon, Solgaloe and Lunala respectively.

Here's a new video from Nintendo introducing some of these legendary Pokémon:

5. Graphics have been improved and, while still cartoony, look slightly more mature

Nintendo really seem to have pushed the 3DS' capabilities with Pokémon Sun and Moon, with the game world looking better and crisper than ever, with a slightly nearer camera placement also drawing you more into Alola. Framerate issues that affected some previous titles also seem to have been squashed, with the game running like butter for the period that we played.

6. Battle animations and special effects have been improved and look impressive

It is business as usual with the battle system in Pokémon Sun and Moon, with you falling back into the combat like putting on an old glove, however Nintendo have spruced everything up for sure, with some flash special effects when your - or your rival's - Pokémon decide to kick things up a notch.

7. You can groom, pet and feed your Pokémon to make them evolve faster

Want to ensure that your prize Jigglypuff hits max level ASAP and transforms into the super cute... err, I mean powerful and badass, Wigglytuff? Well then, you better make sure that you clean him and feed him post rumble. When we played, post battle we could choose to enter into what T3 dubbed "Grooming Mode" and brush off any accumulate detritus that our Pokémon had attained. We could also feed them Pokémon candy, which makes them bond with you faster.

8. Navigation is easier thanks to a handy new companion

There's also a new addition to your Pokédex in Sun and Moon, Rotom. Rotom is technically another Pokémon (an electric ghost type to be precise), however he likes to live in your Pokédex and, lucky for you, is very good at telling you what you need to do and where you should be going. As such, if you ever get lost in Alola, you can get back on track quickly by consulting Rotom.

9. Team Skull make for a suitably amusing antagonist

Comedy goons are a staple of Pokémon games and Sun and Moon doesn't disappoint, with the Team Rocket-esque Team Skull attempting to get in your way. T3 was pleased to see that Team Skull, who dress in baggy gangster gear and bandanas, are well written for comedy effect, frequently letting slip their own inherent stupidity.

10. There are more character customisation options than ever before

If there was one thing that we wanted more of here at T3 Towers in the Pokémon games then it was character customisation options. Much to our pleasure, Sun and Moon appears to deliver on this, with plenty of shops to buy outfits and accessories, cafes to get signature food and drink and hairdressers to get a new hairstyle. Looking fabulous while snaffling new Pokémon has never been easier.